N-alkylamides of D(+)-carnitine having antibacterial activity, process for their preparation and pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions containing same

ABSTRACT

N-alkylamide of D(+)-carnitine having general formula (I) ##STR1## wherein: X -   is OH -   or the anion of a pharmacologically acceptable acid (preferably Cl - ), and 
     R is a straight C 10  -C 16  alkyl radical 
     are prepared via transamination by reacting D(+)-carnitinamide halogenide with an amine of formula NH 2  R wherein R has the above-identified meaning in an acid environment (e.g. H 3  PO 4 ) in the presence of a high-boiling solvent (e.g. ethylene glycol). 
     N-alkylamides (I) are endowed with potent antibacterial activity and are suitable for preparing pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions.

This is a divisional of co-pending application Ser. No. 07/056,595 filed on June 1, 1987, now abandoned.

DESCRIPTION

The present invention relates to novel N-alkylamides of D(+)-carnitine endowed with antibacterial activity, having general formula (I) ##STR2## wherein: X⁻ is OH⁻ or the anion of a pharmacologically acceptable acid, and

R is a straight C₁₀ -C₁₆ alkyl radical.

Preferably, X⁻ is Cl⁻.

The present invention also relates to a process for producing N-alkylamides of formula (I) and the pharmaceutical and cosmetic compositions comprising an amount of at least one of the N-alkylamides (I) suitable for promoting an effective antibacterial action.

Some carnitine N-alkylamides are known already.

In Japanese patent 408435 filed Oct. 31, 1960 in the name of Takeda Chemical Industries, Ltd. carnitinamides structurally analogous to those of formula (I) are disclosed, wherein, however, the radical R is lower alkyl (methyl and ethyl). This Japanese patent discloses that such amides "promote the intestinal peristalsis and are useful as medicaments for intestinal disorders". These amides are prepared by condensing at room temperature a reactive carnitine derivative (an acid halogenide, ester or anhydride) with methylamine or ethylamine.

The N-alkylamides of D(+)-carnitine according to the present invention are on the other hand prepared via a process which comprises the following two characterizing steps:

(a) reacting an alkylamine of formula NH₂ R wherein R is a straight C₁₀ -C₁₆ alkyl radical with a substantially equimolar amount of H₃ PO₄, at 120°-140° C., for 2-4 hours, in an atmosphere of an inert gas, in the presence of a high-boiling solvent; and

(b) adding to the reaction mixture a mixture of D(+)-carnitinamide chloride and alkylamine NH₂ R, at a molar ratio of about 1:1.1, the molar amount of D(+)-carnitinamide chloride being about twice as much the molar amount of H₃ PO₄ and keeping the resulting reaction mixture under stirring at about 110°-130° C. for about 34-38 hours in an atmosphere of inert gas.

After removal under vacuum of the high-boiling Solvent, the residue comprising the N-alkylamide (I) is purified and the compound isolated according to known procedures.

The main advantage of the process of the present invention lies in the utilization of D(+)-carnitinamide chloride as starting material, a by-product in the L-carnitine production by resolution of racemic mixtures of D,L-carnitinamide chloride. To date, no viable utilization has been known for this by-product. Moreover, this process allows the "direct" utilization of D(+)-carnitinamide chloride to be achieved: i.e. the transamination of this process allows the direct conversion of the amide into the N-alkylamides (i) to be carried out. No intermediate steps are needed in order to convert the starting amide in one of those activated compounds (acid halogenides, esters or anhydrides) from which substituted amides are usually obtained (in this regard see the above mentioned Takeda patent). it is apparent that these intermediate steps would lower the yield remarkably and would increase the cost of the end product.

The following non-limiting example illustrates the preparation of one of the N-alkylamides (I) according to the process of this invention.

EXAMPLE Preparation of D(+)-dodecylcarnitinamide chloride

A mixture of dodecylamine (25 m moles), ethylene glycol (20.0 grams) and 85% H₃ PO₄ (25 m moles) was reacted in a 100-ml round bottom flask, sealed with a rubber stopper, under stirring, at 130° C. for 3 hours under nitrogen.

A mixture of D(+)-carnitinamide chloride (50 m moles) and dodecylamine (55 m moles) was then added to the reaction mixture.

The resulting mixture was kept under stirring at 120° C. for 36 hours under nitrogen. When ammonia development ceased, the reaction mixture was cooled and ethylene glycol caused to evaporate at 80° C. under 0.5 mm Hg.

After the residue was dissolved in 80 ml of chloroform, the resulting solution was chromatographed on a silica (50 g) containing column. The product was first eluted with chloroform (100 ml) and with 100 ml of a 9:1 chloroform: isopropanol mixture; then, the product was eluted with 300 ml of a 1:1 chloroform:methanol mixture. The product was recovered by evaporation from the solvent. By further crystallization from 100 ml of tetrahydrofurane and then 100 ml of a 1:1 chloroform:tetrahydrofurane mixture (twice repeated) the title compound was obtained

(Yield: 70%), [α]_(D) ²⁵ +12.74.

Elementary analysis: C=62.22%; H=11.54%; N=7.56%; Cl=10.2% O=8.48%.

Also the remaining N-alkylamides of D(+)-carnitine chloride encompassed in the general formula (I) were prepared by the same process. In the following table, the main chemico-physical characteristics of the compounds are listed.

    __________________________________________________________________________      ##STR3##                                                                      Abbreviated                                                                               Molecular  Elementary Analysis                                                                          IR spectra                                 R   name   weight                                                                               [α].sub.D.sup.25                                                              Theoretical (%)                                                                        Found (%)                                                                            Freq. cm.sup.-1                                                                      Assignments                          __________________________________________________________________________                           C = 60.60                                                                              C = 60.38                                        C.sub.10 H.sub.21                                                                  D(+) CA-10                                                                            336.92                                                                               +13.69°                                                                      H = 10.77                                                                              H = 11.54                                                              N = 8.31                                                                               N = 8.67                                                               Cl = 10.52                                                                             Cl = 10.80                                                             O = 9.50                                                                               O = 8.61                                                                             950   OH                                                         C = 61.60                                                                              C = 61.03                                                              H = 10.91                                                                              H = 11.20                                                                            1300  CN                                   C.sub.11 H.sub.23                                                                  D(+) CA-11                                                                            350.97                                                                               +13.03°                                                                      N = 7.98                                                                               N = 7.75                                                               Cl =  10.10                                                                            Cl = 9.80                                                                            1470  CH.sub.2 e OH                                              O = 9.12                                                                               O = 10.22                                                              C = 62.53                                                                              C = 62.22                                                                            1560  NH                                                         H = 11.05                                                                              H = 11.54                                        C.sub.12 H.sub.25                                                                  D(+) CA-12                                                                            364.97                                                                               +12.74°                                                                      N = 7.68                                                                               N = 7.56                                                                             1650                                                                                  ##STR4##                                                  Cl = 9.71                                                                              Cl = 10.2                                                                            2940  OH                                                         O = 8.77                                                                               O = 8.48                                                               C = 63.34                                                                              C = 63.25                                                                            3300  OH                                   C.sub.13 H.sub.27                                                                  D(+) CA-13                                                                            379.03                                                                               +12.46°                                                                      H = 11.17                                                                              H = 10.51                                                              N = 7.39                                                                               N = 7.50                                                               Cl = 9.35                                                                              Cl = 9.62                                                                            The frequencies and                                              O = 8.44                                                                               O = 9.12                                                                             the corresponding                                                C = 64.18                                                                              C =  64.04                                                                           assignments can be                                               H = 11.28                                                                              H = 12.08                                                                            regarded as identical                      C.sub.14 H.sub.29                                                                  D(+) CA-14                                                                            393.03                                                                               +12.00°                                                                      N = 7.13                                                                               N = 7.10                                                                             for all the compounds                                            Cl = 9.02                                                                              Cl = 9.97                                                                            because the differences                                          O = 6.14                                                                               O = 6.81                                                                             between them are not                                             C = 64.91                                                                              C = 64.80                                                                            significant.                                                     H = 11.39                                                                              H = 11.92                                        C.sub.15 H.sub.31                                                                  D(+) CA-15                                                                            407.08                                                                               +11.53°                                                                      N = 6.88                                                                               N = 6.80                                                               Cl = 8.71                                                                              Cl = 8.50                                                              O = 7.86                                                                               O = 7.98                                                               C = 65.61                                                                              C = 63.38                                                              H = 11.49                                                                              H = 11.67                                        C.sub.16 H.sub.33                                                                  D(+) CA-16                                                                            421.08                                                                               11.00°                                                                       N = 6.65                                                                               N = 6.62                                                               Cl = 8.42                                                                              Cl = 9.47                                                              O = 7.60                                                                               O = 8.86                                         __________________________________________________________________________

TOXICOLOGICAL TESTS

1. Acute toxicity

(1.1) Acute toxicity via the oral route in mice

It was evaluated in albino Swiss mice weighing 20-25 g which had been kept fasting 12 hours before administration.

The compounds dissolved in distilled water were administrated to the animals by gavage.

The animals were divided in groups of 6 animals each and treated with solutions of diminishing concentrations, each concentration being one half of the preceding concentration.

The mice were checked for 7 days following administration in order to verify their possible death or any behavioural alteration.

LD₅₀ was evaluated by the Carrol Weil method (Biometrics, Sept. 1952, pages 249-255, "Calculation of media-effective dose").

The results thus obtained are illustrated in Table 1.

                  TABLE 1                                                          ______________________________________                                         Acute Toxicity via the oral route in mice                                                 D(+)       D(+)       D(+)     D(+)                                            CA-10      CA-12      CA-14    CA-16                                LD.sub.50 (mg/kg)                                                                           890     1417      1125  1960                                      ______________________________________                                         Dose (mg/kg)                                                                   4000         --      6/6       6/6   6/6                                       2000         6/6     6/6       6/6   2/6                                       1000         4/6     0/6       2/6   0/6                                       500          0/6     0/6       0/6   0/6                                       250          0/6     --        --    --                                        ______________________________________                                    

(1.2) Acute toxicity via the intravenous route in mice

It was evaluated in albino Swiss mice weighing 20-25 g.

The animals were injected the compound dissolved in saline solution, in their caudal vein.

The animals were divided in groups of 6 animals each and treated with solutions of diminishing concentration, each concentration being one half of the preceding concentration. The mice were checked for 48 hours following administration.

LD₅₀ was evaluated by the Carrol Weil method.

The results are illustrated in Table 2.

                  TABLE 2                                                          ______________________________________                                         Acute Toxicity via the intravenous route in mice                                          D(+)       D(+)       D(+)     D(+)                                            CA-10      CA-12      CA-14    CA-16                                LD.sub.50 (mg/kg)                                                                           25.19   25.2      48.72 56.42                                     ______________________________________                                         Dose (mg/kg)                                                                   160          --      --        6/6   6/6                                       80           6/6     6/6       6/6   6/6                                       40           6/6     6/6       3/6   0/6                                       20           1/6     1/6       0/6   0/6                                       10           0/6     0/6       --    --                                        ______________________________________                                    

(1.3) Assessment of the irritating activity on the rabbit eye

The Federal Register test (vol. 38, 1973) modified as hereinbelow indicated was used.

Six New Zealand albino rabbits, weighing 1.5-2 kgs, were used for each test substance. Throughout the test the animals were caged so as to exclude possible extraneous materials that may produce eye irritation.

0.1 ml of a 1% solution of the test compounds was instilled with a dropper into the conjunctival sac of the rabbit right eye (the contralateral eye remained untreated and served as a control), whereupon the animals were caged again.

The treated eyes of all the animals were examined, in comparison with the control eye, 24, 48 and, if necessary, 72 hours following treatment.

The irritating activity was rated based on the scoring scale outlined in Table 3.

The results as illustrated in Table 4.

                  TABLE 3                                                          ______________________________________                                         Assessment of the irritating activity on the rabbit eye                        Conjunctivae                                                                   (a)  Conjestion                                                                     Vessels normal               0                                                 Vessels slightly injected    1                                                 Diffuse redness, vessels definetly injected                                                                 2                                                 not easily discernible                                                         Diffuse, beefy red           3                                            (b)  Chemosis                                                                       No oedema                    0                                                 Slight oedema                1                                                 Severe oedema with eversion of lids                                                                         2                                                 Severe oedema with lids about half closed                                                                   3                                                 Severe oedema with lids more than half closed                                                               4                                            Cornea                                                                         No alteration or opacity      0                                                Scattered or confluent areas of opacity;                                                                     1                                                details of iris visible                                                        Easily discernible translucent areas; details                                                                2                                                of iris slightly obscured                                                      Nacreous area; no details of iris visible;                                                                   3                                                contours of pupil barely discernible                                           Complete corneal opacity; iris not discernible                                                               4                                                Iris                                                                           Normal                        0                                                Markedly deepened folds, more numerous than                                                                  1                                                normal; congestion, swelling, moderate circum-                                 corneal injection; iris still reacting to light                                No reaction to light; haemorrhage; gross                                                                     2                                                destruction                                                                    ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 4                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Assessment of the irritation activity on the rabbit eye                                D(+) CA-10                                                                             D(+) CA-12                                                                             D(+) CA-14                                                                             D(+) CA-16                                             irritation score                                                                       irritation score                                                                       irritation score                                                                       irritation score                               __________________________________________________________________________     RABBIT No. 1                                                                           0       4       2       6                                              2       2       4       4       4                                              3       0       4       2       2                                              4       2       2       2       2                                              5       2       2       2       6                                              6       0       4       2       2                                              Average score                                                                          1       3.3     2.3     3.6                                            __________________________________________________________________________

(1.4) Assessment of the cutaneous irritation activity in rabbits

Irritation to the skin was evaluated by the method illustrated in Federal Register (vol. 38, No. 187, page 27019, 1973) on albino rabbits weighing about 2 kgs.

Two days before the test was commenced, the back of the rabbits was clipped free of hair with an electric shearing machine, taking care not to bring about irritations and abrasions.

At test beginning, a zone of the skin was abraded by a sterile syringe needle.

Both on the intact and abraded skin an AL-test patch soaked in a 20% solution of the test compound was secured in place.

Similar patches (controls) soaked in the same volume of saline solution were secured in place on the intact and abraded skin.

The AL-test patches were secured in place to the animals by antiallergic adhesive plasters.

After 24 hours of exposures the patches were removed and the skin examined.

The reactions were evaluated at 24 and 72 hours on the basis of the table in Federal Register (see Table 5). The results thus obtained are illustrated in Table 6.

                  TABLE 5                                                          ______________________________________                                          Assessment of the cutaneous irritating activity SKIN REACTIONS:               ______________________________________                                         (1)  ERYTHEMA                                                                       No erythema                  0                                                 Slight barely perceptible erythema                                                                          1                                                 Well-defined erythema        2                                                 Moderate to severe erythema  3                                                 Severe erythema (intense redness)                                                                           4                                                 to slight eschar formation                                                (2)  OEDEMA                                                                         No oedema                    0                                                 Slight, barely perceptible oedema                                                                           1                                                 Slight oedema (with well-defined edges)                                                                     2                                                 Moderate oedema (raised approximately 1 mm)                                                                 3                                                 Severe oedema (raised more than 1 mm and                                                                    4                                            extending beyond the exposure area)                                            ______________________________________                                    

The reaction value is the average of the values of six animals and is calculated by adding the values under 1) to the values under 2) for both intact and abraded skin. The resulting sum is divided by 24 and the result in termed "primary cutaneous irritation score".

The substance is regarded as:

    ______________________________________                                         non-irritating if the score is 0                                               mildly irritating                                                                             if the score ranges between 0 and 2                             averagely irritating                                                                          if the score ranges between 2 and 5                             severely irritating                                                                           if the score ranges between 5 and 8                             ______________________________________                                    

                                      TABLE 6                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Assessment of the cutaneous irritating activity                                           Erythema value after                                                                      Oedema value after                                                                           Erythema value after                                                                      Oedema value after              Rabbit                                                                             Skin   24 hours                                                                            72 hours                                                                             24 hours                                                                            72 hours                                                                            Total                                                                              24 hours                                                                            72 hours                                                                             24 hours                                                                            72 hours                                                                              Total               __________________________________________________________________________                D(+) CA-10 (*)           D(+) CA-12(**)                              1   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                                                                                    4                       abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                           2   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                                                                                    4                       abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                           3   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                                                                                    4                       abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                           4   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                                                                                    4                       abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                           5   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                                                                                    4                       abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                           6   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                                                                                    4                       abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     2    0                          irritation score                                                                          0                        1                                          __________________________________________________________________________                D(+) CA-14 (*)           D(+) CA-16 (**)                             1   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                      abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                    2   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                      abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0     0  0    0     0    0      0                    3   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                      abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                    4   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                      abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                    5   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                      abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0       0                   6   intact                                                                                0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                      abraded                                                                               0    0     0    0    0   0    0     0    0      0                   irritation score                                                                          0                        0                                          __________________________________________________________________________      (*) Exposure period: 24 hours                                                  (**) Exposure period: 4 hours                                            

ANTIBACTERIAL ACTIVITY

in vitro

1.1 Determination of antibacterial activity on Petri plates

The test was carried out on sterile Petri plates (14 cm of diameters), by inoculating the strains listed at point A in suitable culture media by the Kirby-Bauer method. (A)

1--Bacillus subtilis ATCC 6633 on Muller Hinton agar

2--Escherichia coli ATCC 25922 on Muller Hinton agar

3--Staphylococcus aureus ATCC 6538 on Muller Hinton agar

4--Mucor mucedo ATCC 7941 on Sabouraud maltose agar

5--Candida albicans ATCC 2091 on Sabouraud maltose agar

The antibacterial activity of the compounds was evaluated by means of a well on the solidified medium. The results are shown in Table 7.

                                      TABLE 7                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Antibacterial Activity (diameter in mm)                                        Concentration                                                                         Compound E. coli                                                                            Staph. aureus                                                                         Bac. subtilis                                                                         Cand. albic.                                                                          Mucor mucedo.sup.(*)                  __________________________________________________________________________     0.1%   C10      10.0                                                                               10.2   13.0   12.1   +-                                           C12      19.7                                                                               16.8   18.6   17.1   +                                            C14      11.6                                                                               11.3   10.0   13.1   +-                                           C16      10.0                                                                               10.0   9.5    12.5   +                                     1%     C10      13.8                                                                               15.6   26.8   21.0   ++                                           C12      28.0                                                                               19.7   24.0   23.8   ++                                           C14      12.0                                                                               13.0   12.1   15.8   +                                            C16      10.0                                                                               12.3   11.5   14.1   +                                     10%    C12      31.6                                                                               20.7   27.8   25.9   +++                                          C14      15.5                                                                               18.4   17.9   18.3   +                                            C16      11.2                                                                               15.6   14.0   16.1   +                                            DL-carnitinamide-                                                              chloride --  --     --     --     --                                    __________________________________________________________________________      (*)+- = 10.0 to 12.0 mm in diameter                                            + = 12.0 to 19.0 mm in diameter                                                ++ = 19.0 to 29.0 mm in diameter                                               +++ = 29.0 to 35.0 mm in diameter                                        

in vitro

2.1 Determination of Minimum Inhibiting Concentration (MIC)

The test was carried out on sterile Petri dishes (10 cm of diameter) loaded with 10 ml of medium and antibacterial substance at given concentration, mixed at 9:1 ratio.

The medium used was

(1) Muller Hinton agar for bacteria, and

(2) Sabouraud Dextrose agar for fungi

The solidified plates were then inoculated at the surface thereof with a multi-point inoculator equipped with 48 rods, each of which had been coated with a suspension of the tested microorganism. The suspensions were prepared with the Kirby-Bauer method (Bauer, Kirby, Sherris, Turck 1966, Am. J. Clin. Pathol. 45:49-496) modified according to D'Amato-Hochstein (D'Amato-Hochstein, 1982, J. Clin. Microb. 15 (2) 282-285).

The inoculated plates were incubated at 35° C. (culture medium (1)) and 25° C. (culture medium (2)) respectively.

Reading was carried our after 15-18 hours for bacteria and after 24-30 hours for fungi.

MIC values thus obtained are shown in Table 8.

                                      TABLE 8                                      __________________________________________________________________________     Minimum Inhibiting Concentration (mcg)                                         Method: Petri dishes with solid culture medium                                                 D(+) CA-10                                                                            D(+) CA-12                                                                            D(+) CA-14                                                                            D(+) CA-16                                __________________________________________________________________________     Staphylococcus aureus 10547                                                                    62     15     15     15                                        Staphylococcus aureus 8530                                                                     62     31     15     15                                        Staphylococcus aureus 6538P                                                                    62     62     250    >500                                      Staphylococcus aureus 80R                                                                      62     15     15     15                                        Staphylococcus aureus 58R                                                                      62     31     15     15                                        Enterococcus 1 Renz.                                                                           62     7      <7     <7                                        Enterococcus 2 Renz.                                                                           62     7      <7     <7                                        Strept. faecalis lactis R 8043                                                                 62     <7     <7     <7                                        Strept. faecalis lactis 66/48                                                                  62     7      <7     <7                                        Strept. faecium UM                                                                             31     15     <7     <7                                        Sarcina lutea 9341                                                                             125    62     62     31                                        Bacillus subtilis 6633                                                                         62     15     15     31                                        Pseudomonas aeruginosa 3E                                                                      >500   250    >500   >500                                      Pseudomonas aeruginosa 50F                                                                     >500   125    >500   >500                                      Pseudomonas aeruginosa 12F                                                                     >500   125    >500   >500                                      Salmonella typhi SK                                                                            125    62     250    >500                                      Salmonella typhi 6539                                                                          62     31     15     31                                        Enterobacter cloacae P99 βLatt.                                                           250    62     125    >500                                      Shigella somnei SK                                                                             125    62     200    >500                                      Escherichia coli 4                                                                             125    62     250    >500                                      Escherichia coli 828                                                                           250    125    >500   >500                                      Escherichia coli 92F                                                                           250    62     250    >500                                      Escherichia coli 66/46                                                                         125    125    >500   >500                                      Escherichia coli R57B                                                                          500    125    >500   >500                                      Klebsiella pneumoniae IB 1 (pat.)                                                              250    62     250    >500                                      Candida albicans A 215                                                                         250    62     15     62                                        Candida albicans i6                                                                            250    62     15     62                                        Candida albicans ISS 562                                                                       250    62     15     62                                        Candida tropicalis ISS 5705                                                                    250    <7     31     7                                         Mucor Mucedo 7941                                                                              250    15     15     62                                        Aspergillus niger 9642                                                                         500    15     15     15                                        __________________________________________________________________________

ANTIDANDRUFF ACTIVITY

in vitro

3.1. D(+)CA-12 activity on Pityrosporum ovalis ATCC 12078

The test was carried out on sterile Petri plates having 10 cm of diameter filled with 10 ml of medium inoculated with the tested microorganism.

Sabouraud maltose agar+1% Tween 80 was used as culture medium.

The Kirby-Bauer method modified according to D'Amato-Hochstein was used.

The plates after inoculation by means of wells on the agar-containing medium were incubated at 35° C. for 48 hours.

The diameter of the growth inhibition zone was 20.8 mm for the 1% solution and 11.0 mm for the 0.1% solution.

3.2 Minimum inhibiting concentration of D(+)CA-12 on Pityrosporum ovalis ATCC 12078

The test was carried out following the method outlined at point 2.1, except that the medium was modified by the addition of 1% Tween 80. The resulting MIC was 25 mcg.

The compounds of the invention are suitable for being compounded into pharmaceutical, cosmetic and over-the-counter (OTC) compositions, such as mouthwashes, external disinfectants, deodorants, shaving creams and the like. It was found that, generally, the optimum concentration of N-alkylamides of formula (I) in the compositions is 0.1-0.3% by weight for a preservative action and 0.3-1% by weight for a disinfectant action.

Some compositions according to the invention are hereinbelow indicated.

    ______________________________________                                         Alcoholic deodorant                                                            Ethanol                  42      g                                             Perfume                  0.1     g                                             D(+)CA-12                0.1     g                                             Propylene glycol         3       g                                             Softigen 767             0.5     g                                             Deionized water balance to 100 g                                               Alcohol-free deodorant                                                         Ethanol                  3       g                                             Solulan C 24             1       g                                             Perfume                  0.1     g                                             Propylene glycol         3       g                                             D(+)CA-12                0.1     g                                             Lanidrol (lanolin alcohol)                                                                              0.5     g                                             Deionized water balance to 100 g                                               Shaving cream                                                                  Esso wax 5250            6       g                                             Marcol 52                6.5     g                                             Laurex CS                10      g                                             Tween 60                 3       g                                             Silicone oil AK 350      1       g                                             Butylhydroxyanisole      0.5     g                                             Steinamid P256           1.7     g                                             D(+)CA-12                0.15 g                                                EDTA (ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid)                                                                  0.2     g                                             Propylene glycol         3       g                                             Empigen BT               5       g                                             Polimer JR 400           0.1     g                                             Perfume                  0.35    g                                             Deionized water balance to 100 g                                               Liquid detergent                                                               Empilan 2574             1       g                                             Tween 20                 2.4     g                                             Tween 80                 1.5     g                                             Empigen BT               40      g                                             Zetesol 250              7.6     g                                             Neo extrapon lemon       0.1     g                                             Sigma antioxidant        0.1     g                                             EDTA                     0.1     g                                             D(+)CA-12                0.15    g                                             Solulan 16               0.6     g                                             Phosphoric acid          0.12    g                                             Coconut oil diethanolamide                                                                              3       g                                             Deionized water balance to 100 g                                               Chewing gum                                                                    Chlorofil                0.0027  g                                             Sodium fluoride          0.0152  g                                             D(+)CA-12                0.667   g                                             Micronized sorbitol      35.78   g                                             Micronized mannitol      13.55   g                                             Gum base                 28.74   g                                             Aroma                    0.282   g                                             Menthol                  0.406   g                                             70% sorbitol solution    17.35   g                                             ______________________________________                                     

What is claimed is:
 1. A method of inhibiting bacterial action comprising subjecting the bacteria to a compound of the formula (I) ##STR5## wherein: X⁻ is OH⁻ or the anion of a pharmacologically acceptable acid, andR is a straight C₁₀ -C₁₆ alkyl radical.
 2. The method, as in claim 1 wherein the bacteria inhibited are selected from the group consisting of Bacillus subtilis, E. Coli, Staphyloccus aureus, Mucor muceda, and Candida albicans.
 3. The method, as in claim 1 wherein the bacteria inhibited are selected from the group consisting of Streptococcus faeculis lactis R, Streptococcus faecium, Sarcina lutea, Salmonella typhi, Candida tropicalis, Mucor mucedo and Aspergillus niger. 